He pulled away, gasping.

"Spencer." His name was a plea; her tone a whimper. "Please."

He shook his head. "I left you in The Driskill after I caught the look on your face when you saw the bed."

She swallowed, then glanced down, afraid that he would ask what had put that fear on her face.

"Brooke?" His thumb traced her jawline. "Angel, please look at me."

Slowly, once she knew she'd pulled herself together, she lifted her eyes to him. "I don't have that look now."

"No, you don't, and I'm so glad. But I want you to be certain. Ready. Are you?"

She considered the question. She wanted to be--good God, her body wanted it so damn badly. But sleeping with him now would be sleeping with a memory. If--and it was a big if--they were going to move forward, it wouldn't be with a ghost.

She drew in a breath, then shook her head a tiny bit. "I should get home," she said. "If I don't go now, I'll end up wearing these clothes to tomorrow's meeting. And I don't think that would scream professionalism."

"You look great." His quick grin flashed with amusement. "But I see your point."

She slid off the window seat, then smoothed her clothes. Then she reached for Spencer's hand and squeezed it, just a little. "Thank you," she said, and then hurried for the

door before she changed her mind.

Brent Sinclair opened the door to his cute little bungalow sporting a dishtowel over one shoulder and a teddy bear clutched in the crook of his arm.

"Will he be leading our meeting?" Brooke asked, smiling. She didn't know Brent well yet, but Jenna had introduced her to all of the players at The Fix, so Brooke knew that he was one of the owners and was in charge of the bar's security. And if she hadn't already known he was a single dad, the sight of a teddy and Brent's harried expression would have suggested as much.

"Come on in," he said, pulling the door the rest of the way open to usher her in. "Sorry for the craziness, and thanks for agreeing to meet here. I know it's not ideal."

"It's no problem."

"My daughter spiked a fever last night. She's doing okay today, but there's a twenty-four hour no-fever policy at her kindergarten, and my babysitter's not available."

"Really, it's fine. To be honest, I love driving in this neighborhood. Crestview has some great restored houses." She glanced around at the small, but well-designed house. "Someone did a great job with the built-in cabinets and bookshelves."

"Someone not me," Brent said. "I bought it fixed up. Diapers, play dates, surveillance, and bad guys I've got the hang of."

"Bad guys?"

"Ex-cop," he said. "Law and order I can do. But I'm mostly clueless at Home Depot. That's more Reece's territory."

He cocked his head toward the back. "We're in the dining room. Head on back through the kitchen and help yourself to some coffee. I've got to give Faith her little friend and then I'll be right there."

Brooke gave him a thumbs-up and hurried that direction, wondering if she'd beat Spencer. But the second she stepped into the kitchen, she knew that he'd arrived first. Not that she saw him. No, she just felt him. His presence. His energy.

And when she moved through the kitchen area, then turned into the small attached dining room, there he was, standing in the corner laughing with Reece and Jenna.

He held a cup of coffee and took a sip from it. As he did, his gaze cut to Brooke over the rim of the mug, and though she couldn't see his mouth, she saw the smile in his eyes, and crossed to him, drawn inexorably to him as if he were a magnet and she was solid steel.

"Hey," she said.

"Hey, yourself." Pretty basic as conversations went, and yet there was a familiar heat in those words that shot all the way to her toes. His free hand moved to rest on her lower back, and she took a step closer to him. It felt comfortable, like coming home.

Slow, she reminded herself. You're supposed to be taking it slow.

Wise words, but she didn't heed them. Didn't step away into her own space. Instead she stayed, secure in that gentle touch, and joined in the conversation, which was meandering between kids and cars and the best places in town to grab breakfast.

"Sorry about that," Brent said, coming into the dining room with Molly and Tyree right behind him. "We're all here now, and Faith's settled in with Blue's Clues, so I think we're good to go."

Tags: J. Kenner Man of the Month Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net